The mobile hospital will be installed in the city of Bacabal and will have 40 beds
The United States of America, through the Department of Defense, will fund a field hospital to combat the coronavirus in Bacabal, a city 240 km from São Luís. The installation of the facility will be under the state of Maranhão supervision. The U.S. will donate the entire structure of the hospital, which will have 40 beds, stretchers, air conditioners, cleaning supplies and power generators. The hospital is expected to be delivered in August 2020.
Regarding the support, Ambassador Chapman said in a call Monday, July 20, with Governor Flavio Dino, “The United States and Maranhão share a history of cooperation and friendship. We recognize that the state has many people impacted by COVID-19, and it is important that our health assistance gets to the Maranhão”.
In addition to the hospital structure and supplies, the U.S. will donate US$ 50,000 for kits with personal hygiene products and US$ 50,000 for food baskets to the state of Maranhão.
According to the last update of the epidemiological report by the State Department of Health (SES), on July 15, all 217 municipalities in Maranhão have confirmed cases of Covid-19. This donation demonstrates, once again, the commitment of the U.S. government to the people of the state of Maranhão and Brazil.
This commitment builds on a strong foundation of partnership and collaboration. The United States is Maranhão’s largest importer representing 24% of the state’s exports, and we signed the U.S.-Brazil Technology Safeguards Agreement to open the way for space launches at the Alcântara Base and create high-paying local jobs in innovative fields. The U.S. Government signed a MOU with the State Attorney General’s Office in April 2019 and collaborates closely on investigating criminal cases. We also have a long history of supporting local efforts to internationalize public and private education through its American Spaces, English language programs, exchange programs, and student and teacher training.
The United States and Brazil will remain in close coordination in a shared fight against COVID-19 pandemic and regional response to protect public health, further limit the spread of the new coronavirus, promote early development of a vaccine and save lives.
For further information on this Media Note, please contact the U.S. Embassy Press Office in Brasília at BrasiliaEMBEUA@state.gov or on (+55 61) 3312 – 7367 / 7364. Follow us on Twitter and Flickr.
